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Beagle Dog Breed
The Beagle is a breed of
medium-sized dog. A member of the Hound Group,
it is similar in appearance to the Foxhound but
smaller, with shorter legs and longer, softer
ears. Beagles are scent hounds, developed
primarily for tracking hare, rabbit, and other
game. They have a keen sense of smell and
tracking instinct that sees them employed as
detection dogs for prohibited agricultural
imports and foodstuffs in quarantine around the
world. They are popular as pets because of their
size, even temper, and lack of inherited health
problems. These characteristics also make them
the dog of choice for animal testing.
Although beagle-type dogs have existed for over
2,000 years, the modern breed was developed in
Britain around the 1830s from several breeds,
including the Talbot Hound, the North Country
Beagle, the Southern Hound, and possibly the
Harrier.
Beagles have been depicted in popular culture
since Elizabethan times in literature and
paintings, and lately in film, television and
comic books. Snoopy of the comic strip Peanuts
has been promoted as "the world's most famous
beagle".
History
1.1 Early beagle-type dogs
1.2 Eighteenth century
1.3 Development of the modern breed
1.4 Export
1.5 Popularity
1.6 Name
2 Description
2.1 Appearance
2.2 Colouring
2.3 Sense of smell
3 Variations
3.1 Breed varieties
3.2 Hybrids
4 Temperament
5 Health
6 Working life
6.1 Hunting
6.2 Quarantine
6.3 Testing
6.4 Medical research
6.5 Other roles
History
Early beagle-type dogs
According to the Oxford
English Dictionary, the first mention of the
beagle by name in English literature dates from
ca. 1475 in the Esquire of Low Degree. The
origin of the word "beagle" is uncertain,
although it has been suggested that the word
derives from the French begueule (meaning "open
throat" from bayer "open wide" and gueule
"mouth")[27] or from an Old English, French, or
the Gaelic word beag, meaning "little." Other
possibilities include the French beugler
(meaning "to bellow") and the German begele
(meaning "to scold").
Dogs of similar size and purpose to the modern
Beagle[a] can be traced back to around the 5th
century BC. Xenophon, born around 433 BC, in his
Treatise on Hunting refers to a hound that
hunted hares by scent and was followed on
foot.[3] Dogs of this type were taken to Rome
and may have been imported to Roman Britain.
Small hounds are mentioned in the Forest Laws of
Canute which exempted them from the ordinance
which commanded that all dogs capable of running
down a stag should have one foot mutilated.[4]
If genuine, Canute's laws would confirm that
beagle-type dogs were present in England before
1016, but it is likely they were written in the
Middle Ages to give a sense of antiquity and
tradition to Forest Law.
In the 11th century,
William the Conqueror brought the Talbot hound
to Great Britain. The Talbot was a predominantly
white, slow, deep-throated, scent hound derived
from the St Hubert Hound which had been
developed in the 8th century. At some point the
English Talbots were crossed with Greyhounds to
give them an extra turn of speed.[6] Long
extinct, the Talbot strain probably gave rise to
the Southern Hound which, in turn, is thought to
be an ancestor of the modern day Beagle.[b]
From medieval times, beagle was used as a
generic description for the smaller hounds,
though these dogs differed considerably from the
modern breed. Miniature breeds of beagle-type
dogs were known from the times of Edward II and
Henry VII, who both had packs of Glove Beagles,
so named since they were small enough to fit on
a glove, and Queen Elizabeth I kept a breed
known as a Pocket Beagle, which stood 8 to 9
inches (20 to 23 cm) at the shoulder. Small
enough to fit in a "pocket" or saddlebag, they
rode along on the hunt. The larger hounds would
run the prey to ground, then the hunters would
release the small dogs to continue the chase
through underbrush. Elizabeth I referred to the
dogs as her singing beagles and often
entertained guests at her royal table by letting
her Pocket Beagles cavort amid their plates and
cups.[7] Nineteenth-century sources refer to
these breeds interchangeably and it is possible
that the two names refer to the same small
variety. In George Jesse's Researches into the
History of the British Dog from 1866, the early
17th century poet and writer Gervase Markham is
quoted referring to the Beagle as small enough
to sit on a man's hand and to the:
little small mitten-beagle, which may be
companion for a ladies kirtle, and in the field
will run as cunningly as any hound whatere, only
their musick is very small like reeds.
Standards for the Pocket Beagle were drawn up as
late as 1901; these genetic lines are now
extinct, although modern breeders have attempted
to recreate the variety.
By the 1700s two breeds had
been developed for hunting hare and rabbit: the
Southern Hound and the North Country Beagle (or
Northern Hound). The Southern Hound, a tall,
heavy dog with a square head, and long, soft
ears, was common from south of the River Trent
and probably closely related to the Talbot
Hound. Though slow, it had stamina and an
excellent scenting ability. The North Country
Beagle, possibly a cross between an offshoot of
the Talbot stock and a Greyhound, was bred
chiefly in Yorkshire and was common in the
northern counties. It was smaller than the
Southern Hound, less heavy-set and with a more
pointed muzzle. It was faster than its southern
counterpart but its scenting abilities were less
well developed.[10] As fox hunting became
increasingly popular, numbers of both types of
hound diminished. The beagle-type dogs were
crossed with larger breeds such as Stag Hounds
to produce the modern Foxhound. The beagle-type
varieties came close to extinction but some
farmers in the South ensured the survival of the
prototype breeds by maintaining small
rabbit-hunting packs.
Development of the modern
breed
Reverend Phillip Honeywood established a Beagle
pack in Essex in the 1830s and it is believed
that this pack formed the basis for the modern
Beagle breed. Although details of the pack's
lineage are not recorded it is thought that
North Country Beagles and Southern Hounds were
strongly represented; William Youatt suspected
that Harriers formed a good majority of the
Beagles bloodline, but the origin of the Harrier
is itself obscure.[11] Honeywood's Beagles were
small, standing at about 10 inches (25 cm) at
the shoulder, and pure white according to John
Mills (writing in The Sportsman's Library in
1845). Prince Albert and Lord Winterton also had
Beagle packs around this time, and Royal favour
no doubt led to some revival of interest in the
breed, but Honeywood's pack was regarded as the
finest of the three.[12]
Although credited with the development of the
modern breed, Honeywood concentrated on
producing dogs for hunting and it was left to
Thomas Johnson to refine the breeding to produce
dogs that were both attractive and capable
hunters. Two strains were developed: the rough-
and smooth-coated varieties. The rough-coated
Beagle survived until the beginning of the 20th
century, and there were even records of one
making an appearance at a dog show as late as
1969, but this variety is now extinct having
probably been absorbed into the standard Beagle
bloodline.[13]
In the 1840s, a standard Beagle type was
beginning to develop: the distinction between
the North Country Beagle and Southern Hound had
been lost, but there was still a large variation
in size, character, and reliability among the
emerging packs.[14] In 1856, "Stonehenge" (the
pseudonym of John Henry Walsh, editor of The
Field), writing in the Manual of British Rural
Sports was still dividing Beagles into four
varieties: the medium Beagle; the dwarf or
lapdog Beagle; the fox Beagle (a smaller, slower
version of the Foxhound); and the rough-coated
or terrier Beagle, which he classified as a
cross between any of the other varieties and one
of the Scottish terrier breeds.[15] Stonehenge
also gives the start of a standard description:
In size the beagle measures from 10 inches (250
mm), or even less, to 15. In shape they resemble
the old southern hound in miniature, but with
more neatness and beauty; and they also resemble
that hound in style of hunting.[15]
By 1887 the threat of extinction was on the
wane: there were 18 Beagle packs in England.[16]
The Beagle Club was formed in 1890 and the first
standard drawn up at the same time.[17] The
following year the Association of Masters of
Harriers and Beagles was formed. Both
organisations aimed to further the best
interests of the breed, and both were keen to
produce a standard type of Beagle.[18] By 1902
the number of packs had risen to 44.
Beagles were in the United
States by the 1840s at the latest, but the first
dogs were imported strictly for hunting and were
of variable quality. Since Honeywood had only
started breeding in the 1830s, it is unlikely
these dogs were representative of the modern
breed and the description of them as looking
like straight-legged Dachshunds with weak heads
has little resemblance to the standard. Serious
attempts at establishing a quality bloodline
began in the early 1870s when General Richard
Rowett from Illinois imported some dogs from
England and began breeding. Rowett's Beagles are
believed to have formed the models for the first
American standard, drawn up by Rowett, L. H.
Twadell, and Norman Ellmore in 1887.[19] The
Beagle was accepted as a breed by the American
Kennel Club (AKC) in 1884. In the 20th century
the breed has spread worldwide.
Popularity
On its formation, the
Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles
took over the running of a regular show at
Peterborough that had started in 1889, and the
Beagle Club in the UK held its first show in
1896.[17] The regular showing of the breed led
to the development of a uniform type, and the
Beagle continued to prove a success up until the
outbreak of World War I when all shows were
suspended. After the war, the breed was again
struggling for survival in Britain: the last of
the Pocket Beagles were probably lost during
this time, and registrations fell to an all time
low. A few breeders (notably Reynalton Kennels)
managed to revive interest in the dog and by
World War II, the breed was once again doing
well. Registrations dropped again after the end
of the war but almost immediately recovered.[20]
In 1959 Derawunda Vixen won "Best in Show" at
Crufts.[17]
As a pedigree dog, Beagles have always been more
popular in the United States and Canada than in
their native country. The National Beagle Club
of America was formed in 1888 and by 1901 a
Beagle had won a Best in Show title. As in the
UK, activity during World War I was minimal, but
the breed showed a much stronger revival in the
US when hostilities ceased. In 1928 it won a
number of prizes at the Westminster Kennel
Club's show and by 1939 a Beagle, Champion
Meadowlark Draughtsman, had captured the title
of top-winning American-bred dog for the
year.[21] On 12 February 2008, a Beagle won the
Best In Show category at the Westminster Kennel
Club show for the first time in the
competition's history.[22] In North America they
have been consistently in the top ten most
popular breeds for over 30 years.[23] From 1953
to 1959 the Beagle was ranked number one on the
list of the American Kennel Club's registered
breeds;[24] in 2005 and 2006 it ranked 5th out
of the 155 breeds registered.[25] In the UK they
are not quite so popular, placing 28th and 30th
in the rankings of registrations with the Kennel
Club in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
Description
Appearance
The general appearance of
the Beagle resembles a Foxhound in miniature,
but the head is broader and the muzzle shorter,
the expression completely different and the legs
shorter in proportion to the body.[29] They are
generally between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41
cm) high at the withers and weigh between 18 and
35 lb (8 and 16 kg), with females being slightly
smaller than males on average.[30]
They have a smooth, somewhat domed skull with a
medium-length, square-cut muzzle and a black (or
occasionally liver), gumdrop nose. The jaw is
strong and the teeth scissor together with the
upper teeth fitting perfectly over the lower
teeth and both sets aligned square to the jaw.
The eyes are large, hazel or brown, with a mild
hound-like pleading look. The large ears are
long, soft and low-set, turning towards the
cheeks slightly and rounded at the tips. Beagles
have a strong, medium-length neck (which is long
enough for them to easily bend to the ground to
pick up a scent), with little folding in the
skin but some evidence of a dewlap; a broad
chest narrowing to a tapered abdomen and waist
and a short, slightly curved tail tipped with
white. The white tip, known as the "stern" or
"flag" has been selectively bred for, as it
allows the dog to be easily seen when its head
is down following a scent.[31] The tail does not
curl over the back, but is held upright when the
dog is active. The Beagle has a muscular body
and a medium-length, smooth, hard coat. The
front legs are straight and carried under the
body while the rear legs are muscular and well
bent at the stifles.
Color and Markings
Beagles appear in a range
of colours. Although the tricolour (white with
large black areas and light brown shading) is
the most common, Beagles can occur in any hound
colour.
Tricoloured dogs occur in a number of shades,
from the "Classic Tri" with a jet black saddle
(also known as "Blackback"), to the "Dark Tri"
(where faint brown markings are intermingled
with more prominent black markings), to the
"Faded Tri" (where faint black markings are
intermingled with more prominent brown
markings). Some tricoloured dogs have a broken
pattern, sometimes referred to as pied. These
dogs have mostly white coats with patches of
black and brown hair. Tricolour Beagles are
almost always born black and white. The white
areas are typically set by eight weeks, but the
black areas may fade to brown as the puppy
matures. (The brown may take between one and two
years to fully develop.) Some Beagles gradually
change colour during their lives, and may lose
their black markings entirely.
Two-colour varieties always have a white base
colour with areas of the second colour. Tan and
white is the most common two-colour variety, but
there is a wide range of other colours including
lemon, a very light tan; red, a reddish, almost
orange, brown; and liver, a darker brown, and
black. Liver is not common and is not permitted
in some standards; it tends to occur with yellow
eyes. Ticked or mottled varieties may be either
white or black with different coloured flecks
(ticking), such as the blue-mottled or bluetick
Beagle, which has spots that appear to be a
midnight-blue colour, similar to the colouring
of the Bluetick Coonhound. Some tricolour
Beagles also have ticking of various colours in
their white areas.[33][34]
Sense of smell
Alongside the Bloodhound,
the Beagle has one of the best developed senses
of smell of any dog.[35] In the 1950s, John Paul
Scott and John Fuller began a 13 year study into
canine behaviour. As part of this research, they
tested the scenting abilities of various breeds
by putting a mouse in a one acre field and
timing how long it took the dogs to find it. The
Beagles found it in less than a minute, while
Fox Terriers took 15 minutes and Scottish
Terriers failed to find it at all. Beagles are
better at ground-scenting (following a trail on
the ground) than they are at air-scenting, and
for this reason they have been excluded from
most mountain rescue teams in favour of collies,
which use sight in addition to air-scenting and
are more biddable.[35] The long ears and large
lips of the Beagle probably assist in trapping
the scents close to the nose.
Variations
Breed varieties
The American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel
Club recognize two separate varieties of Beagle:
the 13-inch (330 mm) for hounds less than 13
inches (33 cm), and the 15-inch (380 mm) for
those between 13 and 15 inches (33 and 38 cm).
The Kennel Club (UK) and FCI affiliated clubs
recognize a single type, with a height of
between 13 and 16 inches (33 and 41 cm).
English and American varieties are sometimes
mentioned. However, there is no official
recognition from any Kennel Club for this
distinction. Beagles fitting the American Kennel
Club standard—which disallows animals over 15
inches (38 cm)—are smaller on average than those
fitting the Kennel Club standard which allows
heights up to 16 inches (41 cm).
Pocket Beagles are
sometimes advertised for sale but the bloodline
for this variety is extinct, and, although the
UK Kennel Club originally specified a standard
for the Pocket Beagle in 1901, the variety is
not now recognized by any Kennel Club. Often,
small Beagles are the result of poor breeding or
dwarfism.[9]
A strain known as Patch Hounds was developed by
Willet Randall and his family from 1896
specifically for their rabbit hunting ability.
They trace their bloodline back to Field
Champion Patch, but do not necessarily have a
patchwork marking.[37]
[edit] Hybrids
In the 1850s, Stonehenge recommended a cross
between a Beagle and a Scottish terrier as a
retriever. He found the crossbreed to be a good
worker, silent and obedient, but it had the
drawback that it was small and could barely
carry a hare.[38] More recently the trend has
been for "designer dogs" and one of the most
popular has been the Beagle/Pug cross known as a
Puggle. Less excitable than a Beagle and with a
lower exercise requirement, these dogs are
suited to city dwelling.
Temperament
The Beagle has an even
temper and gentle disposition. Described in
several breed standards as "merry", they are
amiable and generally neither aggressive nor
timid. They enjoy company, and although they may
initially be standoffish with strangers, they
are easily won over. They make poor guard dogs
for this reason, although their tendency to bark
or howl when confronted with the unfamiliar
makes them good watch dogs. In a 1985 study
conducted by Ben and Lynette Hart, the Beagle
was given the highest excitability rating, along
with the Yorkshire Terrier, Cairn Terrier,
Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier
and Fox Terrier.[40][c] Beagles are intelligent,
but as a result of being bred for the long chase
are single-minded and determined, which can make
them hard to train. They are generally obedient
but can be difficult to recall once they have
picked up a scent and are easily distracted by
smells around them. They do not generally
feature in obedience trials; while they are
alert, respond well to food-reward training, and
are eager to please, they are easily bored or
distracted.
Beagles are excellent with children and this is
one of the reasons they have become popular
family pets, but they are pack animals, and can
be prone to separation anxiety.[41] Not all
Beagles will howl, but most will bark when
confronted with strange situations, and some
will bay (also referred to as "speaking",
"giving tongue", or "opening") when they catch
the scent of potential quarry.[42] They also
generally get along well with other dogs. They
are not demanding with regard to exercise; their
inbred stamina means they do not easily tire
when exercised, but they also do not need to be
worked to exhaustion before they will rest,
though regular exercise helps ward off the
weight gain to which the breed is prone.
Health
The median longevity of
Beagles is about 12.3 years, which is a typical
lifespan for a dog of their size.
Beagles may be prone to
epilepsy, but this can be controlled with
medication. Hypothyroidism and a number of types
of dwarfism occur in Beagles. Two conditions in
particular are unique to the breed: Funny Puppy,
in which the puppy is slow to develop and
eventually develops weak legs, a crooked back
and although normally healthy, is prone to range
of illnesses; and Chinese Beagle Syndrome in
which the eyes are slanted and the outer toes
are underdeveloped but otherwise development is
as normal.[46] Hip dysplasia, common in Harriers
and in some larger breeds, is rarely considered
a problem in Beagles.
Weight gain can be a
problem in older or sedentary dogs, which in
turn can lead to heart and joint problems.
In rare cases, Beagles may develop immune
mediated polygenic arthritis (where the immune
system attacks the joints) even at a young age.
The symptoms can sometimes be relieved by
steroid treatments.[46]
Their long floppy ears can mean that the inner
ear does not receive a substantial air flow or
that moist air becomes trapped, and this can
lead to ear infections. Beagles may also be
affected by a range of eye problems; two common
ophthalmic conditions in Beagles are glaucoma
and corneal dystrophy.[48] "Cherry eye", a
prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid, and
distichiasis, a condition in which eyelashes
grow into the eye causing irritation, sometimes
exist; both these conditions can be corrected
with surgery.[46] They can suffer from several
types of retinal atrophy. Failure of the
nasolacrimal drainage system can cause dry eye
or leakage of tears onto the face.[46]
As field dogs they are prone to minor injuries
such as cuts and sprains, and, if inactive,
obesity is a common problem as they will eat
whenever food is available and rely on their
owners to regulate their weight.[46] When
working or running free they are also likely to
pick up parasites such as fleas, ticks, harvest
mites and tapeworms, and irritants such as grass
seeds can become trapped in their eyes, soft
ears or paws.[49]
Beagles may exhibit a behavior known as reverse
sneezing, in which they sound as if they are
choking or gasping for breath, but are actually
drawing air in through the mouth and nose. The
exact cause of this behavior is not known, but
it is not harmful to the dog.
Working life
Hunting
Beagles were developed
primarily for hunting hare, an activity known as
beagling. They were seen as ideal hunting
companions for the elderly who could follow on
horseback without exerting themselves, for young
hunters who could keep up with them on ponies,
and for the poorer hunters who could not afford
to maintain a stable of good hunting horses.[51]
Before the advent of the fashion for foxhunting
in the 19th century, hunting was an all day
event where the enjoyment was derived from the
chase rather than the kill. In this setting the
tiny Beagle was well matched to the hare, as
unlike Harriers they would not quickly finish
the hunt, but because of their excellent
scent-tracking skills and stamina they were
almost guaranteed to eventually catch the hare.
The Beagle packs would run closely together ("so
close that they might be covered with a
sheet"[11]) which was useful in a long hunt, as
it prevented stray dogs from obscuring the
trail. In thick undergrowth they were also
preferred to spaniels when hunting pheasant.[52]
With the fashion for faster hunts, the Beagle
fell out of favour for chasing hare, but was
still employed for rabbit hunting. In Anecdotes
of Dogs, Jesse says:
In rabbit-shooting, in gorse and thick cover,
nothing can be more cheerful than the beagle;
and they have been called rabbit-beagles from
this employment, for which they are peculiarly
qualified, especially those dogs which are
somewhat wire-haired.
In China they appear to
have been employed chiefly for hunting rabbits
from the earliest imports. Hunting hare with
Beagles became popular again in Britain in the
mid-19th century and continued until it was made
illegal in Scotland by the Protection of Wild
Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 and in England and
Wales by the Hunting Act 2004. Under this
legislation Beagles may still pursue rabbits
with the landowner's permission. Drag hunting is
popular where hunting is no longer permitted or
for those owners who do not wish to participate
in blood sports but still wish to exercise their
dog's innate skills.
The traditional foot pack consists of up to 70
Beagles, marshalled by a Huntsman who directs
the pack and who is assisted by a variable
number of whippers-in whose job is to return
straying hounds to the pack. The Master of the
Hunt is in overall day-to-day charge of the
pack, and may or may not take on the role of
Huntsman on the day of the hunt. Beagles may
also be employed individually or in a brace (a
pair).[53]
As hunting with Beagles was seen as ideal for
young people, many of the British public schools
traditionally maintained Beagle packs. Protests
were lodged against Eton's use of Beagles for
hunting as early as 1902 but the pack is still
in existence today,[54] and a pack used by
Imperial College in Wye, Kent was stolen by the
Animal Liberation Front in 2001.[55] School and
university packs are still maintained by Eton,
Marlborough, Wye, Radley, the Royal Agricultural
College and Christ Church, Oxford.[56]
Beagles have been used for hunting a wide range
of game including Snowshoe Hare, Cottontail
rabbits, game birds, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Bobcat,
Coyote, Wild Boar and foxes, and have even been
recorded as being used to hunt Stoat.[53][57] In
most of these cases, the Beagle is employed as a
gun dog, flushing game for hunter's guns.[53]
Quarantine
Beagles are used as
detection dogs in the Beagle Brigade of the
United States Department of Agriculture. These
dogs are used to detect food items in luggage
being taken into the United States. After
trialling several breeds, Beagles were chosen
because they are relatively small and
unintimidating for people who are uncomfortable
around dogs, easy to care for, intelligent and
work well for rewards.[58] They are also used
for this purpose in a number of other countries
including by the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry in New Zealand, the Australian
Quarantine and Inspection Service, and in
Canada, Japan and the People's Republic of
China.[59] Larger breeds are generally used for
detection of explosives as this often involves
climbing over luggage and on large conveyor
belts, work for which the smaller Beagle is not
suited.
Testing
Beagles are the dog breed most often used in
animal testing, due to their size and passive
nature. Of the 8,018 dogs used in testing in the
UK in 2004, 7,799 were Beagles (97.3%).[61] In
the UK, the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act
1986 gave special status to primates, equids,
cats and dogs and in 2005 the Animal Procedures
Committee (set up by the act) ruled that testing
on mice was preferable, even though a greater
number of individual animals were involved.[62]
In 2005 Beagles were involved in less than 0.3%
of the total experiments on animals in the UK,
but of the 7670 experiments performed on dogs
7406 involved Beagles (96.6%).[63] Most dogs are
bred specifically for the purpose, by companies
such as Harlan. In the UK companies breeding
animals for research must be licensed under the
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act.
Testing of cosmetic
products on animals is banned in the member
states of European Community,[64] although
France protested the ban and has made efforts to
have it lifted.[65] It is permitted in the
United States but is not mandatory if safety can
be ascertained by other methods, and the test
species is not specified by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).[66] When testing toxicity
of food additives, food contaminants, and some
drugs and chemicals the FDA uses Beagles and
mini-pigs as surrogates for direct human
testing.[67]
Anti-vivisection groups have reported on abuse
of animals inside testing facilities. In 1997
footage secretly filmed by a freelance
journalist inside Huntingdon Life Sciences in
the UK showed staff punching and screaming at
Beagles.[68] Consort Kennels, a UK-based breeder
of Beagles for testing, closed down in 1997
after pressure from animal rights groups.[69]
[edit] Medical research
In the United States where the breeds of dog
used are not specified (although Beagles feature
heavily in published research papers) the number
of tests performed each year on dogs dropped by
two-thirds, from 195,157 to 64,932, over the
period from 1972 to 2004.[70] In Japan the laws
on animal experimentation do not require
reporting on the types or number of animals
used,[71] and in France the proportion of
inspectors to testing facilities means the
regulatory environment is essentially one of
trust.[71]
Beagles are used in a range of research
procedures: fundamental biological research,
applied human medicine, applied veterinary
medicine, and protection of man, animals or the
environment.
Other roles
Although bred for hunting, Beagles are versatile
and are nowadays employed for various other
roles in detection, therapy, and as family
pets.[31] Beagles are used as sniffer dogs for
termite detection in Australia,[72] and have
been mentioned as possible candidates for drug
and explosive detection.[73][74] Because of
their gentle nature and unimposing build, they
are also frequently used in pet therapy,
visiting the sick and elderly in hospital.[75]
In June 2006, a trained Beagle assistance dog
was credited with saving the life of its owner
after using his owner's mobile phone to dial an
emergency number.
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